The Proteas suffered their first loss of the 2022 T20 World Cup as they went down by 33 runs against Pakistan in a rain-affected contest. After the game, South African captain Temba Bavuma reasoned the inability to react quickly to the changing conditions as the major reason for the defeat.
Chasing 186, the Proteas lost two early wickets before Bavuma blasted a rapid 36 alongside Aiden Markram to take their side’s score to 65 in seven overs. But the rain became heavier, and the ball started to skid. The eighth over bowled by Shadab Khan turned out to be the game-changer as the leg-spinner had Bavuma nick behind and castled Markram in his first three balls.
An over later, the players were taken off due to the heavy rain and when the match resumed, South Africa needed 73 from five overs with the last specialist batting pair at the crease. It was an uphill task for Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs as they fell way short of the target.
“Conditions changed a little bit with the ball going to skid. I think in terms of our awareness, in terms of adapting to that, we were very slow. We allowed them to get momentum into their innings, and they were able to get a formidable score on the board,”
said Bavuma.
The Proteas had an early advantage after they reduced Pakistan to 43 for 5 but then let Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz add a 52-run stand for the sixth wicket. The South African bowling attack completely lost the hold on the game in the second half of the innings as Shadab Khan hammered 52 off 22 alongside Iftikhar Ahmed’s 51 off 35.
“I think with the ball, with them coming into the field, they had momentum. They probably had the advantage on their side, and they just ran with that. I think a team like Pakistan, as you know, is very dangerous when you give them any type of momentum,”
he added.
